Stamp-affixing instrument.



A. I. SIEDLE & J. H. R. YARDLEY.

STAMP AFFIXING INSTRUMENT.

. APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, 1913. 1,1 30,205. Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

29 i .25... v s- THE NORRIS PETERS CQ, PHOTC-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. D. C.

A. J. SIEDLE & J. H. R. YARDLEY.

STAMP AFFIXING INSTRUMENT.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.9, 1913. 1,1 30.205. Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHDTO-LITHOY. WASHINGTON, D. c

STATES PATENT @EFTQE.

ADOLPH JOSEPH SIEDLE AND JOHN HENRY REGINALD YARDLEY, LONDON, llilIN'('3:L-.NIDv

$TA'MP-AFFIXING INSTRUMENT.

Application filed April 9, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ADOLPH Josnrrr Smnnn, engineer, of 43 Cannon street, London, England, and JOHN HENRY REGINALD Yannnny, captain, of 145 St. Stephens House, lVestminster, London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stamp-Aflixing Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved stamp affixing instrument and has reference to machines or instruments which, at a single operation, feed a stamp from a strip, sever it and affix it to a surface which has by the operation of the machine been supplied with moisture.

An important feature of the present invention consists in that the machine is of a form which enables it to be grasped in one hand and the whole of its operations are effected and controlled by the one hand, the thumb of which operates the feeding and severing means, while the afiixing operation is effected by a slight bodily movement of the machine as will hereafter be made clear. The machine may be gripped somewhat after the fashion of a revolver and the natural gripping pressure utilized to operate it. At each operation a supply of moisture is ejected on to the surface to which the stamp is to be applied iust before the affixing of the stamp takes place.

In some cases we propose to combine with the machine a franking mechanism to enable the stamps to be aiiixed and canceled at practically one and the same time.

One practical embodiment of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the improved stamp alfixine: machine showing the stamp strip in position for feeding. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine with the stamp strip removed. Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the machine and shows it mounted upon a suitable base or support, while Fig. 4 illustrates a modification wherein a franking device is combined with the affixing pad and operates to cancel the stamp as the latter is affixed. Fig. 5 is a detailed view of a modified form of the affixing mechanism.

Referring to these drawings, wherein like Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

Serial No. 760,031.

numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts wherever occurring, 1 designates a stamp roll loosely mounted upon a spindle or sleeve 2 and situated between the side plates 3 and 4 of the instrument. Rigidly mounted between these side plates is a flat bed 5 over which the stamp strip 6 passes after leaving the roll 1. A pair of narrow leaf springs 7 attached to the side plates 3 and 4 cooperate with the bed 5 to guide the stamp strip 6, the extreme end of which is normally flush with the edge 8 of said bed.

Mounted upon the side plates 3 and 4 and parallel to the bed 5 are a pair of guide rods 9 upon which is slidably mounted a stamp feeding carriage 10 constructed in the following manner: The main frame 11 of the feeding carriage slides upon the guide rods 9 and under the influence of a spring 12 anchored to the side plate 4 normally assumes the position shown in the drawings. A thumb plate 13 is pivoted to the main frame at 14 and a secondary frame 15 is also pivoted to it at 16. This second ary frame 15 is suspended from the thumb plate 18 by means of screws 17 which enter lugs 18 on the said frame and by reason of the leaf spring 19, cooperating with the main frame 11, the two are constrained to assume the position shown. It will be seen that if the thumb plate 13 be depressed, relative movement will take place between the said plate and the lugs 18; this is provided for by elongating the holes in the thumb plate through which the screws 17 pass. The stamp feeding pins 20 preferably of the form illustrated are carried upon a plate 21 pivoted at 22 to the frame 15 and resting upon the forward end 23 thereof. A spring 24 mounted upon a spindle 25 between the lugs 18 acts on the top of the plate 21 and tends to prevent it from being raised. A striker 26 mounted on the frame 15 is adapted to operate the damping mechanism and release the affixing pad in the manner hereinafter set forth.

The damping mechanism comprises a water tank 27 provided with a filling screw cap 28 and suitably located perforations 29 through which water may be ejected on to the surface to which the stamp is to be affixed. A plunger 30 is mounted upon a rod 31 and is adapted to be reciprocated within the tank wforrthe purposer-of ejecting the water. aA riplate .32 slides on the bottom or base plate of the tank 27 and is guided bywthe boss -33 and thescrew 34 which respectively cooperate with slots 35 and 36 in the said plate for this purpose. This sliding plate 32 is adjustably'iconnectedas at 37 to the plunger rod 31 and is drawn by spring 38-iancho=red to the screw 84 in such a direction as to force the plunger 30 up against the perforated end of the tank. The sliding plate is furnished with a lug 39 (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1.) and a lever 4O is'vpivoted' tothe side plate 4 at 41.1 One end 42 of this lever contacts the lug and the striker 26 on :the framelfi engages the other endl43 there of during the period when'thecarr'iage 10 is being operated to feed the" stamp v In'order' td facilitate the :fillin g of the tank27 it isinade readily detach-able from therestof the machine To this end it-is "mounted upon afbase plate 44 from one end .of which rise two pointed lugs or projections 45 parallel to the sides :of the tank. These projections enter corresponding V- shapednotchesdn the side plates 3 and 4.'

The other-"end ofthe' base plate 4-4'has two "upwardly extending lugs 46 vandlakremovable pin 47 passing. through the-side plates Blend 4 and; also through these lugs serves tofsecu're the 'ta nkflin -.po'sitio'n. a

' flTho'se endsiofthe de lates 3 and 41'smote fromxthe stamp. .roll are extended upwardly inthe-form of walls 48: and 49 upon and between which the severing'an'd afilxing mechanism, is disposed. Lugs 5O upon these walls receivethe ends. of; the two gui'de rods 9' whose otherends are'accom modated finthe lugs 51 andf'held against longitudinal inovement lby the set screws 52.

traveliipryand. downeth'reon by virtue of the slotsz58. This knife5 3is" so adjusted that its cutting" edge 60 can coiiperate 'with the 'ed'geSZot-thefbedt to sever the stamp strip/.and springs 60 ."preferably. carried "on the guide {rods 9 m1. actingflon the under side of the projecting lug. 61,normally keep the knifeiraisedto such -a position that the stamp strip mavpass lindernea thit "jln the operation'of the'machineiit is depressed to'severthe stamp strip'bymeans of a a downwardly, projecting ".lu-g on'-=the forward edge oftherthuinb plate 13. This lug can'zonly come into contact withthe lug '61 a'ftei" the pins, 20 have.passed.overthe edge '18 of the "bed "5"When. they are free -.to descendtinlftrontl said edge. Suitable 64 pivoted-upon 'a'spindle- 65Jbetween the fittings 66 on the walls48, 49. A rod 67 connecting these walls serves as an anchor 'forthe spring 68 which tends to raise the plate 64 so that the stamp may pass ben'eaththepad 63. This upward motion may be limited by a stop or by the end 69 of the plate contactingwith the slightly inclined surface 7 0 on the saddle piece'64; A fitting 71 is pivoted at its two extremities to" the side plates 72 and the plate 6 4 iseXtended beyond the-pivotal spindle 65 to forin a tailpiece 73 which engages a slot 74 in the yoke portion of this fitting. i

, It will be seen that if pressure he applied to the edge 75 of the fitting 71 it will tend to rotate about its-pivotal points 72 and in so rotating to raisethe tail piece 73 and 'corresponding ly depress thepad. 63-until the said pad meets with some obstruction such as the surfaceto which the stamp is to be aifixed. It is of course desirable that the pad should not descend untilthe stamp has beensevered and to this end the plate64' is furnished with a book 76 which normally engages a pin 7 7 This pin is mounted upon one arm of-a bell eranklever 78 pivoted at 79 to the wall 49 and held in the position shown by a spring 8 anch-ored'at 81. The .7

pin7'Z 'is disengaged from the 11001176 by depressing the end 82 of the bell crank lever '78. The upper-edge 83*ofthe hookj'ZG is contoured to form a cam and in the'eventof q the pin 77 being permitted to return before the plate 64 the cam "edge will "temporarily displace the'said pin and permit the hook to'returnto its normal position A- cam plate 84=is pivoted at 85 to the; side plate 3 and is normally held up against the stopliii} by a spring 87; This earn-plate cooperates with a pin 88 on the frarnelfi to raise the feeding pins QO-clearof the stamp strip-on therreturn-journey of the feeding carriage The operation o fthe machine to aitix a stamp will now be describedrmainly with reference to Fig. 1 of the'drawings, which figure shows the stamp strip in position,

ready to be fed forward. 7 I, 1 r 7 The machine is gripped at the end occupied bythe stamp 'roll and the edge of 'the fitting 71 'is pressed againstsome part-of tliesurface to which the stamp is to be affixed- Pressure is now applied ina down ward and forward directionto the'thurnb plate 13. Thus the feeding pins-'20 are brought into contact with the'stamp strip (i over which they ride-compressirigthe spring 24, until they reach the perforations 89, which they enter, under the influence of said spring, passing through 'intogrooves 90 cut in the bed 5 for their accommodation. The stamp strip is now firmly engaged on the feeding pins and so travels forward with the feeding carriage. As the stamp strip passes of" the edge 8 of the bed its two edges engage in shallow guide slots 91 cut in the walls 1 8 and 19. The initial depression of the thumb plate 13 brings the striker 20 into line with the en of the lever 1-0. Thus the striker in its travel turns the said lever about its pivot 41. The end 12 of the lever acting against the lug 39 forces the sliding plate 32 to the right and with it the plunger 30. The spring 38 returns the various parts when the striker 26 has passed on and the plunger on its return ejects water through the holes 2 9 on to the surface to which the stamp is to be affixed. During the feeding of the strip the spring controlled cam plate 8% is forced out of the way by the pin 88 acting against the inclined edge 92 and the carriage travels on unimpeded until the feeding pins 20 pass off the edge 8 of the bed, when the stamp is in position for severance. The thumb plate can now be further depressed and the lug 02 contacts the lug 01 and depresses the severing knife 53 in opposition to the springs 60 causing the said knife to sever the stamp strip on the line of perforations. After severance has taken place the striker 26 contacts the end 82 of the bell crank lever 7 8 and thus disengages the pin 77 from the hook in the manner above described. The fitting 71 is now free to turn about the pivots 7:2 and a slight upward movement of the body of the machine combined with pressure upon the edge 75 effects this rotation and causes the affixing pad 68 to descend, sweep the severed stamp free of the guide slots 91 and afiix it to the moistened surface. On the return journey of the carriage 10 under the influence of the spring 12 the thumb plate 13 first rises until the feeding pins 20 are clear of the bed 5 and the stamp strip lying thereon. The pin 88 traveling upon the edge of the cam plate 84. insures this clearance before the carriage is permitted any appreciable backward travel. This prevents the feeding pins from touching the stamp strip on the return journey and also permits the striker to pass clear of the lever 10. Tn loading the machine with stamps the pivoted plate 93 is first swung aside to permit the stamp roll 1 to be placed upon the sleeve 2 and when replaced returns the said roll in position between the side plates 3 and 4.

An alternative method of using the machine is illustrated in Fig. 3 where it is shown mounted between a pair of standards 941 upon a bed plate or table 95 upon which is laid the article to which the stamp to be affixed. A. removable spindle 96 passes through suitably placed holes in the standards 94 and through the bore of the sleeve 2 while a spring 97 anchored at 98 raises the remote end 75 of the machine above the bed plate. The height to which it is raised is limited by a stop 99 and is such that the proper action of the fitting 71and therefore of the pad-will automatically take place when the cr triage 10 is operated in the manner hereinbefore set forth.

Figs. E and 5 illustrate the application to our improved affixing machine of a franking mechanism which operates automatically to cancel the stamp as the latter is aflixed by the affixing pad. Fig. at shows the aiiixing and franking mechanism in the position which it normally occupies when the machine is not in use, while, Fig. 5 shows the same mechanism op rating to allix and cancel a stamp. According to this slightly modified construction the pivoted plate 6 1 to which the affixing pad 63 is attached is furnished with two upstanding walls 100 and 101 between wh ch the franking mechanism is carried. The wall 101 is slotted as shown in Fig. 1 to form. a hook 102 which takes the place of the hook 70 described in connection with 1, 9 and 3 and cooperating with the pin 77 to lock the pivoted plate 0% in the manner above described. A fitting 103 is moun red on a spindle 101 journaled in walls 100 and 101 and carries the type 105. Fast upon the same spindle 10% and located outside the wall 100 is a cam plate 106 which engages a pin 107 fixed on the wall 1-8. l/Vhen the pad is in its raised or inoperative position as shown in Fig. 4 the edge 108 of the cam plate 106 rests against the pin 107 and the type is then in contact with the surface of an inking roller 109 also mounted between the walls 100 and 101. Vihen the pad is released and descends to affix the stamp the franking mechanism is, of course, carried downward the edge 110 of the cam plate 106 contacts the pin 107. As this cam edge slides over the pin in the further descent of the pad it rotates the spindle 101. Thus the type 105 is brought out of contact with the inking roller 109 and swung around until it passes into the opening 111 out through the pad 03 and through the pivoted carrying plate 61 for its accommodation. Shortly before the pad completes its travel the printing surface of the type lies flush or approximately flush with the under surface of the said pad, and finally the two descend together to the position shown in Fig. 5 simultaneously affixing and canceling the stamp. On the return of the pad the pin 107 contacts the cam edge 108 and brings the type back again into contact with the inking roller 109. Any suitable means may be adopted for rendering this roller renewable. Its spindle 112 may for instance be journaled in suitably inclined slots, or the walls 100 and with it, but before it has completed its travel all 101 ,may be ,arnade sufficiently resilient .to be s un f h end th s d pin le- What we chi and desire to secure by Letters Patent gis e '1 A stamp aflixing apparatus comprising a frame, means on the frame for carrying a stamp roll, means for cutting a stamp from the roll, a guide for guiding the stamps to the cuttingrmeans, a movable carriage supported :by'the frame, means carried by the .carriage for movingthe stamps to the .cut-

ting means, means for applying fluid to the article to which the stamp is to be aiiixed, an

affixing means and means operated by the carriage for releasing the affixing means for allowing the same to be operated.

2. A stamp affixing apparatus comprising afr'ame, a stamp roll supported by the frame, a cutting blade, means for feeding stamps to the blade, a thumb carrlage operating on the frame, a cylinder, a piston in u riage operating above the feeding board, a

knife for severing stamps from the roll, pins carried by the thumb carriage for engaging the stamps and moving thesame [0. the knife, a cylinder, a piston operating in the cylinder, means operated by the movement of the thumbcarriage for operating the piston and forcingfiui'd from the cylinder, and means for afiixing stamps. v

4e. Astamp aflixing apparatus comprising.

a frame, a stamp roll supported by. the frame, a stamp feeding board disposed adacent the stamp roll, means supported under the stamp board for delivering fluid, a lever pivotally mounted on the frame, one end of the lever beingfin engagement with the fluid feeding apparatus,'a thumb carriage adapted to move on the frame, means for delivering stamps from the stamp roll and means for severing the stamps, and means carried by the carriage for engaging the lever for forcing fluid'from the fluid container, and means for affixing stamps.

5. A stamp affixing apparatus'comprising a frame, a stamp roll supported by the frame, a carriage movable on the frame, a fluid containing cylinder supported under the frame, a piston in the cylinder, a sliding plate under the cylinder, means for connecting the piston and sliding plate, and means operated by the carriage for operating the piston for forcing fluid from the cylinder.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures-in presence of two witnesses.

ADOLPH JOSEPH- s nner.

"Witnesses:

MARGARET I. PFEI'FER, JAMES R. PATTISON.

JOHN HENRY REGINALD YARDLEYL Qop ies of this patent may be obtained, fer five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, i

V flSl 'fioni Q. 

